In the country of Ukraine right now the economy is very bad, and there is threat of war. The government cut off all funding to the zoos. Approximately 10,000 animals only have a few more days of food. They will die very quickly if we don't get food and medical supplies to them.

On March 20th, 2014 the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization (LAEO) found out that the Nikolaev City Zoo only had enough food left for many of the animals for 2 more days. It currently houses 5,735 animals, including animals such as lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, wolves, bears, bison, fox, monkeys, crocodiles, boas, deer, and many kinds of birds and fish.

We quickly created a team of people there to help the animals, and are raising the funds to provide the basic food and medical supplies to keep the animals alive. Unfortunately, most of these kinds of animals cannot eat food scraps thrown over the fences by people who want to help - the animals are getting sick from it.

We are trying to save the lives of over 10,000 animals in at least 5 zoos and safari parks in Ukraine and Crimea. In the past 3 weeks we have raised $45,000 and we have delivered 16 and 1/2 tons of food to keep these animals alive. But we need at least $500,000 to cover their food and medical expenses for 4 months. Once we have that, that will take the immediate pressure off and we can then work to help the zoos find their own ways to bring in the money they need to feed their animals.

We want to make sure that not one animal dies in the present crisis. In 2003, our founder went into Baghdad, Iraq to rescue the abandoned zoo animals there. In just 9 days, the zoo had gone from 600 animals down to 35. Most died from lack of food and water.

We are asking you to help us make sure that none of these animals die from starvation.

Background Data:

The head of our team there is a man from South Africa named Lionel de Lange. He has lived in Ukraine for three years and is a successful businessman who loves animals.

Lawrence Anthony started The Earth Organization after his experience rescuing the animals of the Baghdad Zoo. He is best known as "The Elephant Whisperer" because he rescued a herd of wild elephants who then made friends with him. The night he died, he was 300 miles away. But they somehow knew he had passed away and they walked 12 miles to his house and stood outside the fence mourning his death. They have returned to his house on the anniversary of his death for the past 2 years.